Watch the new inland waterways video

2017 is off to a great start

Posted Saturday 15 Apr 2017 20:06 PM

Well the season is off to a flying start and the narrowboats are looking great after a winter of blacking, painting and where needed some improvements !! All the boats now have microwave ovens and solar panels and on a couple of the boats we have refurbished the soft furnishings so that the 5 star experience is even better. The weather is getting warm and the Lancaster Canal is coming to life - just in time for Easter. Here's to a great season. . . . . . . . . . .

Radio On The Canal

Posted Monday 08 Aug 2016 07:43 AM

A great pleasure for Crabtree Narrowboat Hire to have Fylde Coast Radio broadcasting their Breakfast Show live from Cedar all this week. Fylde Coast Radio are currently the fastest growing radio station in the UK. You can listen here: http://tunein. Com/radio/Fylde-Coast-Radio-s242782/

Spring Is Sprung

Posted Saturday 26 Mar 2016 18:47 PM

The Lancaster Canal is coming to life with the arrival of spring and the season is off to a flying start. Our new boat Cedar is looking great and receiving some very nice comments and admiring looks. Many thanks to Andrew Crook and his experts at Brayzel Boats (brayzel@btopenworld. Com) for all their hard work, help and advice. Thanks to everyone for their really kind comments regarding our ROSE Award from Visit England which we received late last year and also the recent articles in Towpath Talk and The Tillergraph. Let’s hope that the spring sunshine is on the way and that a lovely summer is promised to us all.

Top Honour

Posted Wednesday 21 Oct 2015 08:10 AM

I am absolutely thrilled and very honoured to announce that Crabtree Narrowboat Hire has been awarded a 2015 VisitEngland ROSE Award in Recognition Of Service Excellence. This new VisitEngland award is to be awarded annually to only 100 VisitEngland quality assessed accommodation businesses that go the extra mile to provide excellent customer service.

The nomination was triggered following the annual VisitEngland quality assessment. The observations of our assessor and other evidence, including online customer reviews were taken into account and the final judging panel also looked for innovation that set our business apart. This included facilities or services offered to make the customer’s stay really special. The BMF were asked to give recommendations to Visit England of Hire Companies who give excellent customer service. We were nominated alongside 4 other Hire Companies by the BMF but were the only business to be recognised by VisitEngland for this most prestigious new award.

We are so delighted on being a recipient in the first year of the award.

New Season

Posted Sunday 22 Feb 2015 16:58 PM

Well the season is nearly upon us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The finishing touches are being made to Willow, Linden & Mulberry ready for their first hires and we now have a new addition to the family - YIN YANG. She is a widebeam that is a "skippered boat" - something new for the Lancaster Canal a skipper to navigate for you so you don't need any previous experience to start and the cost and facilities are comparable to a villa holiday. Check out the website for all the details - just look under the Canal Boat Charter tab.

Last Availability For 2014

Posted Friday 12 Sep 2014 22:39 PM

We are now approaching the seasons end but there are a few hire dates left to fill so we are really pleased to be able to offer some discount !!! Take advantage of the late summer weather and grab a few days on the beautiful Lancaster Canal. It really is looking lovely out there . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Debit & Credit Card Payments

Posted Thursday 24 Jul 2014 18:14 PM

I'm pleased to announce that from the beginning of September any one wishing to hire with us will be able to pay by Debit or Credit card. Crabtree Narrowboat Hire is really pleased to offer this facility, which will make booking even easier - especially for our overseas customers!!

Flooding

Posted Tuesday 18 Feb 2014 19:00 PM

Really happy to say that the recent heavy rains and strong winds haven't impacted on the Lancaster Canal. There are currently no "weather" problems affecting the canal and bookings are buoyant (sorry !!) at the moment - looking forward to the start of the season (March) getting out onto the canal. The narrowboats are looking superb and ready to go . . . . . . . . . . .

5 Star Award

Posted Sunday 07 Jul 2013 13:27 PM

Our narrowboats have just been assessed for the coming year by Visit England and I'm very happy to announce that they have all received a 5 Star award again and that "Linden" has received hers for the first time. We are the only narrowboat hire company on the Lancaster Canal to have received this significant and respected award. We are justly proud of our boats and our hirers agree, as we are consistently getting top marks and great feedback on our customer survey forms.

Linden

Posted Thursday 16 May 2013 21:02 PM

Linden is on course to be here ready for her first hire on the 26th May. She's currently being painted and is looking wonderful !! The sun will have to shine when she finally takes to the water - really looking forward to her joining Willow & Mulberry.

New Boat

Posted Friday 15 Feb 2013 18:24 PM

Really, really thrilled to be able to announce that at the beginning of May we will be adding a third narrowboat to the Crabtree Narrowboat fleet. "Linden" is the same size and layout as "Willow" (44 foot) and is of course of the same high standard as the other two boats. The price will be the same as Willow - but this boat will hire from Sunday to Sunday (Sunday to Wednesday and Wednesday to Sunday for short breaks). A page with more details will be up shortly, but if you want further details then please just contact us. Roll on summer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Seasons End

Posted Monday 12 Nov 2012 19:08 PM

Well the end of our first season and a big thank you to everyone who’s booked with us and enjoyed the beautiful Lancaster Canal. We’re now looking forward to next year with the hope that the sun will shine a little more than it did this year – the only real downside to a wonderful first year. There are already plans afoot to improve the boats – we’ve listened to your comments and even though they are 5 star there’s always room for improvement !! Check back for details shortly – in the meantime Happy Christmas !!

Wonderful Weather At Last

Posted Sunday 22 Jul 2012 10:37 AM

Summer seems to have finally arrived and there are still a couple of hire periods available for August. After the soaking we've had it will be nice to see the Lancaster Canal bathed in sunshine. Obviously there are only a limited number of hire periods available so contact us for details ASAP and enjoy a tranquil break on one of the most beautiful canals the UK has to offer on the only 5 star narrowboats on the Lancaster Canal.

Short Break on The Lancaster Canal

Posted Thursday 24 May 2012 23:39 PM

Just had a quick break on the Lancaster Canal as one of the boats was available. The weather was absolutely perfect and the canal looked superb - can't believe how lucky we are to have such wonderful countryside on our doorstep.

Visit England

Posted Monday 07 May 2012 10:03 AM

Really thrilled to announce that on Friday 4th May 2012 Crabtree Narrowboat Hire was assessed by Quality In Tourism: the assessment service for Visit England and both of our narrowboats, Willow and Mulberry, were awarded the highest possible rating achievable – 5 stars. This is a tremendous achievement and one we are truly proud of. We are the only narrowboat hire company on the Lancaster Canal that has this 5 star award from Visit England – the national organisation for tourism in England.

Summer has Arrived!

Posted Tuesday 27 Mar 2012 18:26 PM

Wow – How nice is this weather ?? The Lancaster Canal looks really appealing at the moment. Not too many boats about and you’re in serious danger of getting a really good sun tan !!The first hirers of the season have given some great feedback after their holidays and have had a lovely time – it seems that the Lancaster Canal takes some beating. There is still some availability for April with Crabtree Narrowboats. “Willow” and “Mulberry” are there waiting for someone - so get in touch for a great holiday or short break !!

The Season Begins

Posted Wednesday 04 Jan 2012 18:24 PM

Well, the first season for Crabtree Narrowboat Hire has begun. We’ve already had some bookings and a number of enquires including day boat hire which we are not planning at the moment but is something we will perhaps look at for later in the season.

We’ll be updating on a regular basis from now on as the season (and the nice weather) approaches with news and, we hope, some interesting additional offers ………. . Visit us again soon.

Lancaster Canal Narrow Boat Holidays`

Posted Monday 24 Oct 2011 12:23 PM

With winter closing in you might not be thinking about Canal boat holidays on the Lancaster Canal. However, with few Narrow boats available for hire on the Lancaster Canal you might want to start thinking about Spring 2012. Crabtree Narrow Boats offer Lancaster Canal Boat Hire, we offer 2 brand new Luxury Narrow Boats, Willow and Mulberry. Imagine cruising down the idyllic Lancaster Canal with no decision more taxing than where to moor and have lunch! If you are thinking of a Canal Boat holiday in 2012 then call Crabtree Narrow Boat Hire for narrow boat holidays on the Lancaster Canal.

Welcome To Our News Blog

Posted Friday 09 Sep 2011 09:47 AM

Check here regularly for information about our products, services and special offers